Maldives on the political map of the world. Maldives (country). Local residents and national traditions

Geographic maps are used by both experienced travelers and novice tourists. Modern versions clearly and in detail display the general location of countries, cities and their internal infrastructure.

Maldives on the world map in Russian

This piece of paradise is difficult to spot on a regular world map. The island chain is located off the coast in equatorial waters Indian Ocean. Only zooming in allows you to clearly see the location of the Maldives.

They are located 700 km from Sri Lanka and India. In the southwest there is a famous resort area - the Seychelles.

The Maldives is a chain of 1,192 coral islands united into 26 atolls. Moreover, administratively they are divided into 20 atolls. The most famous of them are: North and South Kaafu;

  • Seenu;
  • Meemu;
  • Faavu;
  • Vaavu.

The Maldives is washed by the Indian Ocean

An interactive map in Russian will help you understand the specific location of a particular resort.

Maldives on a map of Asia in Russian

Looking at the Maldives on a map, it is clear that they extend north of the equator between Eurasia and Africa. The island state belongs to South Asia, which also includes countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India.

The flight to Sri Lanka takes approximately one hour, and a little longer to India. Approximately 5 hours flight from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and 8 hours from China.

Map of the Maldives with resorts in Russian

For the convenience of tourists in navigating the area filled with various vacation spots, a Russian-language map has been created with the designations of all the islands and atolls. The atlas shows a general view of the archipelago. The most popular destinations among tourists, routes, the largest resort areas, where you can find everything you need for a comfortable pastime. Using such a navigator, any guest of the republic without knowledge in English calmly moves among the numerous islands.

Important! Uninhabited places on the territory are not marked.

Map Maldives with attractions shows the best places to relax. For example, the Banana Reef Nature Reserve, where lovers of exploring underwater caves enjoy the richness and vibrant life of the marine world.

Addu Atoll hotels on the map

With a local coordinate system, it is easy for tourists to navigate the choice of resorts, the most popular of which are:

  • Male is the republican capital, offering guests a lot of excursion programs and exciting entertainment, markets, and museums. The presidential palace and one of the most grandiose mosques are especially attractive.
  • Faavu is famous among true gourmets who appreciate spas and food in best restaurants and always striving to look 100%!
  • Arias are preferred by lovers of diversity in flora and fauna. The famous turtle bays are located here.
  • It is useful for tourists to study transport links on the map of the Republic of Maldives. In the middle part you can see the main international Airport Male. Next door on the island of Khuhule is the international airport named after Ibrahim Nasir, which is one of the largest for seaplanes. The path to it from the capital by speedboat or ferry is clearly visible. Cafe is the most tourist area. Most of the hotels are located here. Popular destinations also include the Aria and Baa atolls, which are relatively close to the airport.

Note! It is difficult to see a specific island among thousands of islands. It is better to first find the name of the atoll on the map, and then the desired location.

If you plan to stay at several hotels, it will be useful to take a look at nearby resort areas and local airports in advance to get an accurate idea of ​​the trip, the amount of time needed to travel, nearby attractions, entertainment and opportunities. This way you can distribute your vacation time most effectively.

Regions of the Maldives on the map

The Maldives archipelago is not part of any state. It is an independent presidential republic. The map clearly shows separation from other countries and intra-regional demarcation.

The administrative structure of the Republic of Maldives includes 20 island groups and a capital atoll called Male. There are no lakes or rivers throughout the territory. According to its geographical location, the archipelago is divided into 8 regions: Central, Far Northern, Northern and others. Conventionally, they are all divided into 3 large groups of atolls:

  • northern;
  • average;
  • southern.

Chain from the Maldives

It is very interesting to see what the Maldives looks like from above. According to one version, each atoll appeared on the top of a volcano with islands on its crater, part of a chain of extinct volcanoes. This explains the circular arrangement of land areas, as can be seen on the map of the Maldives. Moreover, they are all very similar to each other. The most high point(2.4 meters above sea level) is located in the southern Addu Atoll.

Yandex and Google maps of the Maldives

Satellite images allow you to see even the smallest islands of the state and their internal infrastructure. Judging by the abundance of private hotels that own the islands, it is clear that tourism is a key industry in the Republic of Maldives. Only guests of the country and service personnel live on their territory. There are guest houses where Maldivians live.

Where the Maldives is is shown on maps from major search engines. All infrastructure facilities available on the territory are presented in detail:

  • hotels, inns, guest houses;
  • places transport links(airports, the only port in Male);
  • entertainment venues;
  • mosques;
  • government agencies;
  • markets, shops;
  • cafes, restaurants;
  • beauty salons, spa treatments;
  • sports clubs, fitness centers, swimming pools;
  • service companies for aquatic species sports, entertainment;
  • private educational establishments(for example, diving, surfing courses).

When choosing a vacation spot, interactive maps will help you study tourism, transport and social infrastructure.

Map of Maldives and Bali

For any geographical map It’s easy to notice the differences in the climate of the Maldives and Bali, which are separated by almost 5 thousand km. If island archipelago is completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean, then the Bali territory is washed by it only from the south and is located much to the north. Therefore, in these two places, although warm, the weather is opposite in terms of seasons.

Note! In Bali, the best period for relaxation is the end of spring and summer; it is preferable to visit the Maldives in winter.

The Republic of Maldives is an independent state representing a chain of islands. Bali is located in the same southern hemisphere of the Earth between Australia and India, but is one island in the Malay Archipelago.

Bali Map

Maps of the Maldives and Bali will help you make the right choice of vacation spot. Displayed on them tourist sites infrastructure, transport routes clearly show the difference.

Advantages and disadvantages of the geographical location of the state for tourism development

The country is located in a favorable climatic conditions location - in the south of India, surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Beautiful weather all year round is perfect for a beach holiday. The air temperature never drops below +17 degrees Celsius. During the main part of the year it fluctuates around 25-28 degrees. The rainy season begins in June and ends by September. During the winter-spring period, tourists are pleased with the dry weather.

In recent years, Nuunu Atoll has been developing most actively. Particular emphasis is placed on the premium class of tourism. The map shows the abundance of neighboring islands, which has become a key factor in attracting travelers and investors.

The geographical location has both pros and cons for vacationers. Advantages:

  • Calm atmosphere. The Maldives are popular among connoisseurs of a secluded holiday away from noisy parties, bazaars, and crowded crowds. This is facilitated by small island territories where there is not much room to roam. Unlike many Asian countries, there is no migration flow here seeking to earn money. Local citizens live in separate territories. Each island belongs to one private hotel. The holiday is organized in such a way that guests meet only at joint events, during meals. Therefore, it is chosen by couples in love and people tired of a hectic life who want to hide from surrounding gazes.

The Maldives is an ideal place for a secluded holiday

  • The purity and richness of the underwater world. Walking along the ocean coast, guests of the country enjoy clean sandy beaches, crystal waters, and lush palm trees. The diving here is the best in the world - in the expanses of water visibility reaches 40 meters.

Flaws:

  • Lack of mass entertainment, cultural and excursion offers. Unlike Turkish animation, there are no mass entertainers in the Maldives. Relaxation consists of enjoying nature and water activities. There are no historical or architectural attractions on the islands.
  • Poor kitchen. No matter how much a holiday in the Maldives costs, the local cuisine is not strong point resort. The cuisine, which takes its cues from Indian and Sri Lankan gastronomy, is extremely spicy. Therefore, living for a long time on such a diet is fraught with health. Only the largest hotels provide good food.
  • Expensive. In addition to the fact that hotels have very high prices for water, juices, and alcohol, a lot of money is spent on individual transfers. For example, a boat for two up to neighboring island and back in August 2018 cost about $500. For a candlelit dinner on the ocean shore, tourists shelled out at least 200-300 dollars.

So, the world map shows that the Maldives is an original island chain located in the depths of the Indian Ocean, far from crowded places at a distance of about 5000 km from Bali and is one of the countries of South Asia. More than a thousand islands are grouped into 20 atolls and divided into 8 large regions. Yandex and Google have Russian-language versions of a detailed representation of the internal infrastructure of the entire Maldivian territory.

*the prices shown are current as of August 2018.

Where are the Maldives on the world map? The Republic of Maldives is located in South Asia and located on a group of several atolls in the Indian Ocean. The capital of the Maldives is Male.

Regarding the flight to these islands, we can definitely say that the flight time to the Maldives from Moscow is not the longest when compared to others tourist destinations recreation and travel.

On a detailed map of the Maldives we can see that the republic is located in equatorial waters approximately 700 kilometers from Sri Lanka. This is a chain of twenty atolls, which in turn consist of 1192 small coral islets. The highest point of Maldvi is located on the southern Addu Atoll (altitude only 2.4 meters above sea level). Not a single island in the Maldives has rivers or lakes.

A detailed map of the Maldives in Russian can be downloaded from Google and you can see that tourism is the main industry of the republic, since it is located here big number private islands, where the hotel is located, which is the property of the island, and where only tourists and service staff live. Guest houses are located in areas where the local population lives. The very first resorts appeared on the island of Bandos and in the village of Kurumba.

The Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is a country that is geographically a chain of atolls in the Indian Ocean. To find where the Maldives are located, you need to find India on the map and draw a line from the lowest point of India to the highest point of Madagascar. On this line along the map, slightly down and to the left of the southern point of India, the capital of the Maldives, Male, will be located.

The Maldives stretches for almost 1000 km from north to south. Male is located approximately in the center of this chain.

Relatively close to the Maldives are India and Sri Lanka, 600 and 670 km respectively. But the distance from the Maldives to its nearest neighbor in the west of the Seychelles is 2230 km. The distance to Mauritius from the Maldives is 3320 km.

Visa to Maldives

When tourists first come to the Maldives, located on atolls, they have difficulty understanding where the reef is, where the lagoons are, where the inland waters are, where the ocean is. The Maldives is a completely different world, and you need to make an effort to understand it.

How atolls were formed in the Maldives

Currently, the hypothesis for the development of atolls is as follows. Under all the Maldives islands and atolls there are extinct volcanoes.

In the underwater part of the volcano, corals develop on its slopes. Volcanoes gradually go under water, and corals stretch upward. Then the volcano goes completely under water and a lagoon is formed - an internal body of water formed above an extinct volcano.

This is a simplified diagram; the Maldives atolls are very complex in structure. Those small atolls where tourists usually live are located on the edges of a large atoll and have their own shallow lagoons. In the diagram they are called resort lagoons. Also, hotels or residential communities are often located on islands that do not have their own lagoons. Islands may be located within a large lagoon, or on the ring of a large reef. Islands are created when a reef grows above the water and a layer of fertile soil is applied to it. Islands where fresh water is found become inhabited.

The reef, which has a pale blue appearance when viewed from above, lies under a thin layer of water and is often exposed at low tides. In a large lagoon the depth can reach 20-30 meters, and in shallow lagoons the water will reach waist level even at high tide.

Coral reef at low tide

Coral reef underwater


In the photo below you can see two small atolls. These are atolls formed along the edges of a reef. The island in the photo is called Thilafushi and is part of the North Male Atoll.

The same area on Yandex maps allows you to see that Thilafushi Island is located on a small atoll, which is part, figuratively speaking, a bead in the necklace of a huge atoll - North Male Atoll.

The size of North Male Atoll is 70 by 40 km. 27 islands of this atoll are given over to hotels, 8 islands are for fishing. Maldivians are forced to crowd onto patches of land. Therefore, their capital is on one island, the airport is on another, and fuel is stored on a third.

Hotels in the Maldives are most often located on the principle of one island, one hotel. The islands are very small and many of them can be easily walked around in an hour. Communication is carried out by boats to the hotels closest to the airport and by seaplanes to distant atolls.

Maldives Map

The diving diagram clearly shows that the Maldives are located on an underwater ridge, with many islands inside the atolls. On right detailed map Maldives.

According to various estimates, the Maldives has from 1200 to 2000 islands. 1200 - if you count the islands with vegetation. Of these, 200 islands are officially inhabited. But in reality there is much more, since the 200 inhabited islands do not include hotel islands where people do not live permanently. The Maldives is a kingdom of water. 99.6% of the country's territory is occupied by water.

There are about 20 large atolls in the Maldives. There is some confusion - as there are traditional, new names and letter designations of the Maldivian atolls. Below the maps is a list of these names. The new names are nothing more than the names of letters in the Dhivehi alphabet. The northernmost atoll is designated A, and you need to look for it at the top of the map, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives is designated S and is located at the bottom of the map.

Names of atolls in the Maldives

New name for Maldives atolls

Traditional name
Maldives atolls

Letter code
Haa Alifu (Haa Alif) North Tilandumati A
Haa Dhaalu (Haa Dhaal) South Tilandumati B
Shaviyani North Miladunmadulu C
Noonu (Nunu) South Miladunmadulu D
Raa (Raa) North Maalhosmadulu E
Baa (Baa) South Maalhosmadulu F
Lhaviyani Faadhippolhu G
Kaafu (Kaaf) Male H
Alify (Alif) Ari I
Vaavu (Vaavu) Felidhu J
Meemu (Meemu) Mulakatolu K
Faafu Northern Nilandhe L
Dhaalu (Dhaal) South Nilandhe M
Thaa (Thaa) Kolhumadulu N
Laamu (Laamu) Haddhunmanti O
Gaafu Alifu (Gaaf Alif) North Huvadhoo P
Gaafu Dhaalu (Gaaf Dhaal) South Huvadhoo Q
Gnaviyani Fuwa Mula R
Seenu Addu S


    Islands of the Mediterranean Sea

But to the question: - Where are the Maldives? not everyone will be able to give the correct answer. Meanwhile, finding their location is not at all difficult. Pick up a map and find the Indian Ocean. Two parallel chains of islands, southwest of India and near the equator, are the coveted Maldives.

A little geography

Exotic coral islands stretch from north to south for 820 kilometers. total area The Maldives is 90 thousand square kilometers, but only 298 square kilometers are allocated to land, the rest of the territory is occupied by the sea. Coral atolls unites 1192 delightful islands, of which 994 are uninhabited.

The population of the paradise country is 393 thousand people, who settled on two hundred islands. About half of them hospitably welcome tourists from all over the world, who know very well where the Maldives are on the world map and strive to come here as often as possible. The islands are very small, several square kilometers, so there is no more than one hotel on each of them. Blue transparent lagoons, amazing sandy beaches, unique vegetation and the highest level of service make your holiday here delightful and unforgettable.

Weather

Where are the Maldives? Where there is no winter. The subequatorial monsoon climate provides an average annual temperature of 24-30 degrees. From November to March there is dry, warm weather and the thermometer does not drop below 17 degrees. There are rains, rough seas and temperatures of 30-32 degrees. It is pleasant to swim here all year round, because the water temperature constantly remains at the same level - 24-27 degrees.

Flora and fauna

A distinctive feature of the animal world is the complete absence of poisonous reptiles. And you don’t even have to worry about a dog bite here; keeping these animals is prohibited by law. But quite a short distance from the shore you can see a huge whale shark, but, as you know, giants feed only on plankton, so those who want to swim can do so without fear.

Fans of exotic fruits simply need to know where the Maldives are, because there are a great variety of them here. The unique climate allows you not to lack vitamins all year round.

Coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papaya, and pineapples delight tourists and natives with their juicy pulp. Everywhere the delicate aroma of orchids, hibiscus, roses, their variety and variety amazes the imagination.

Calmness, silence and complete unity with nature allow you to completely detach yourself from existing problems and give yourself a good rest.

Smallest capital

The city of Male is recognized as the smallest capital in the world, because it covers an area of ​​only 2.5 square kilometers. This is a tiny cozy town whose main attractions are the "Good Friday" mosque with a sparkling golden dome, located in Sultan Park National Museum, the Presidential Palace and the legendary burial places of Maldivian saints. There are no noisy entertainment venues here, but you can stroll along the picturesque embankment, enjoy the aroma of flowers in a shady park, and visit unique vegetable and craft markets. Everything in this country is subject to the laws of nature, and, probably, sometimes it’s even good to take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities in such a cozy and calm place.

Visa and customs control

Where the Maldives is located is well known to those who have visited this wonderful exotic corner and will probably visit it again.

To travel here you do not need to visit consular offices -.

You can relax here for 30 days, this is exactly the period indicated on the tourist visa, which is placed in your passport free of charge upon arrival in the country. Customs can check whether you comply with the rules that prohibit import:

  • drugs;
  • pork products;
  • animals;
  • alcohol;
  • anti-Islamic literature;
  • pornographic products;
  • military attributes.

In addition, when going on an exotic vacation, you should remember that nudism and toplessness are prohibited in this Muslim country, and women, when visiting the capital and areas where aborigines live, should not wear beachwear; knees and shoulders must be covered.

The attractiveness of the Maldives

The prohibitions and restrictions that are important for local residents and not at all burdensome for us do not in any way detract from the advantages of relaxing in this fairyland. Now you know that the Maldives is where the transparency of the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, exotic fruits and the aroma of exquisite flowers, spreading palm trees and schools of colorful fish, calm silence and solitude on a small colorful island in the middle of the ocean expanse. The Maldives is paradise on earth, pleasure and bliss that you can give yourself.

One cannot but agree that among all the variety of tourist routes, one of the most idyllic holiday destinations is geographically located where the Maldives are located.

About the Maldives

The Maldives combines everything that a holidaymaker wants to get to the fullest from their holiday - relaxation on sandy beach, an even tan in the rays of the gentle sun, emotions from the opportunity to feel like a surfer or diver, impressions from getting to know the local culture. The Maldives is a place where temperatures remain high all season long, where many coral islands combine to form a perfect representation of paradise on Earth, and where there is a very subtle sense of unity with the surrounding nature. What does the average tourist know about this unique country?

Maldives

Location of the Republic

The Republic of Maldives, being island state, recognized democratic republic with its own local flavor and traditions.

Everyone has heard about it best place beach holiday, but few people know where the Maldives are. But it is the location that allows Maldivian resorts to remain in the top tourist sales both in 2018 and earlier. It is not so easy to find answers to the questions of where the Maldives are located, in what country, on what continent, since the islands are so small and so scattered that they cannot be immediately found on a geographical map. But if you look at South Asia right at the equator, a whole range of islands will open to the tourist’s eye in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. They are united under the common name of the Maldives, where initially it was the foothills of the volcanic island mountains that formed the coral islands.

The volcanic past of the islands has given the whole world amazing beauty blue lagoons, endless beaches, unique vegetation and rich undersea world. The opportunity to feel a sense of unity with nature, find out what the sea is like in the Maldives, and also look at the endless and majestic ocean - all this is given to every tourist by a trip to the Maldives.

National characteristics of the Maldives

The Maldives is a country of strict rules, even with all its relaxing tourist atmosphere. The local population is always ready to help, show attentiveness, provide the proper level of service, and express peacefulness in the best traditions of island hospitality. But the peculiarities of religious traditions require guests to follow certain rules.

The Muslim religion imposes a mandatory ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in public places. In addition, before setting off, you should carefully consider the fact that it is prohibited to import alcohol to the Maldives.

Important! Very serious attention should be paid to issues of clothing - adhering to local rules, not to expose yourself too much, showing off your body.

Respect is also required for their national symbols. Maldivians are especially sensitive to the flag and coat of arms, as well as the national flower - the rose. They consider the coconut palm to be the national tree, and the national animal, the tuna, is protected by the state.

Locals store unique national characteristics, speaking among themselves in a mixture of different languages, including Arabic. Dhivehi, which is close to the Indo-Aryan group, is also considered the national language.

Note! Locals prefer to speak English with tourists.

Subtleties of tourism in the Maldives

A huge number of islands offer tourists the opportunity to have a quality holiday. Hotels, villas, and bungalows offer vacationers everything they need for comfort. Even such a frequently occurring problem when traveling as the issue with sockets will not disturb the tourist here, because everything is thought out in advance.

Every resort region The Maldives can show tourists the ideal beach holiday, but you shouldn’t expect a variety of attractions. In the Maldives, beaches are considered a national treasure; their cleanliness and beauty are unrivaled. Among the Maldivian cities that can somehow diversify a lazy holiday on snow-white pristine beaches with walks along the promenade, excursion routes By iconic places, only the capital Male stands out. Often travel agencies initially include a visit to it in the itinerary.

Note! The island of Maafushi, which belongs to a budget destination, is very popular among Russian tourists.

It is also called the Russian Maldives. Here is the opportunity to get good vacation, learn local traditions and life in the Maldives from the inside, bring home memories of Maldivian tastes and preferences. You can experience the authenticity of the Maldivians through local cuisine. Both large hotels and ordinary catering places will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with local delicacies, and even to the sound of their music. A variety of fruits will help you feel all the sweetness of your holiday: from the well-known coconuts and bananas to exotic papaya, mango and guava.

It is also important for every tourist to be able to bring something memorable from their vacation. The Maldives, what a country it is - sunny, open and hospitable, so are the souvenirs, filled with light and island flavor. They usually bring brightly painted clothes, water equipment, jewelry, teas and delicacies for themselves or as gifts. The export of corals and any items made from them, as well as turtle shells, is strictly prohibited.

Important! Since danger in the Maldives can only come from sea ​​depth, tourists do not have to worry about their safety.

Undersea world

The main rule here is compliance with basic rules. When diving, it is important to remember that you should not touch anything. This will help avoid many problems. Whale sharks, common in the coastal waters of the Maldives, are completely safe for vacationers. Being the largest fish on the planet, they do not pose a danger to people, because they feed only on plankton. You should be extremely careful when swimming wild beaches. This is especially true when swimming among dangerous marine life. These include stone fish, whose poison poses a serious threat to human life, sea ​​urchins and stingrays. Swimming on coral beaches should be done in special shoes that can protect your feet from injuries that can easily be caused by coral debris.

Note! Being an island nation, the Maldives is prone to tsunamis.

The worst tsunami occurred in 2004. But on this moment, this natural disaster does not affect the Maldives. The state is fully concerned about the protection of its vacationers and local residents, and creates programs to protect coral reefs that save the islands from sea currents.

Additional Information! When going on a trip to the Maldives, especially on your own, it is important to know the time zone in which they are located and how much time it will be in the Maldives upon arrival at the country’s airport. Time in the Maldives is measured according to a single time zone, which refers to GMT +05:00. In the Maldives, time is not converted to summer and winter. The difference with Moscow is +2 hours.

Another important issue for tourists is currency. The national currency in the Maldives is the rufiyaa. The current exchange rate of rufiyaa to the ruble is 4.35, and to the dollar 0.065*.

This is interesting:

  • It is important to remember that the Maldives is a Muslim country with special treatment to wealth. Showing it off is considered bad form, so there is an opinion that the more simply a person is dressed, the richer he is.
  • In the Maldives, there is something like a morality police that protects religious preferences, namely Sunni Islam. Other religious propaganda carries penalties up to and including actual prison time.
  • Pigs are not bred in the country; moreover, dogs are also considered “unclean animals”. The exception is shepherd dogs that serve in the police. Bringing a pet to the Maldives is strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule may face not only a serious fine, but also placement in a sanitary zone at the airport.
  • Unlike our generally accepted working week, the Maldivian one is different in that weekdays are from Sunday to Thursday. Maldivians rest on Friday and Saturday; these days are considered official days off.
  • Since stocks fresh water in the Maldives are insignificant; even rich residents collect it in any available container during rain.
  • It is interesting that the Maldivian airport is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean on an artificially created island.
  • Not only local residents, but also guests are prohibited from swimming naked on the islands. The only exception where this can be done is the island of Kuramati.

Kuramati Island

Organizing independent travel In the Maldives, it is important to remember that it is not possible to rent a car here; even using a bicycle is problematic. Local transport will also not help you get to your destination, as it is not particularly developed. Some islands are so small that you can walk around them. To help tourists, there are only speedboats and boats that organize communication between the islands.

The most important issue when organizing a tour to the Maldives is, of course, air travel. If the trip is not organized through an agency, then purchasing tickets should not be delayed for months. It is very rare on flight organizing services, but there are still sales on popular destinations. The number of tickets is strictly limited, so don't rely on luck. You can save money by subscribing to mailing lists of services that offer discounts and early flight bookings. The most expensive flight to the Maldives for two will be from December to April - this is the most popular time, when everyone goes on vacation to the islands en masse. To reduce the price for this period, you can find a suitable ticket six months before departure. There are no direct flights; transfers are often made through the Turkish direction, but there are many other options. You can fly not only from Moscow; the flight takes on average 11 hours.

Despite the long flight, the Maldives is a fairy tale that is worth plunging into from our reality, at least for a while.

*The prices indicated in the article are current as of January 2018.